Pure Encouragement Podcast

Stop merely knowing ABOUT God's grace and start EXPERIENCING it!  In this episode, Gary interviews Josh Sherley, an incredible brother in Christ, ministry leader, and Senior Director at Cushman & Wakefield | Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors on his story going from knowing about God's grace to experiencing it. Josh opens up about how God set him free from hidden sin and the extraordinary...

Have you ever felt guilty for your past life? Have you ever felt unworthy to accept the love of God? If you have, you are not alone! The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:9, "For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." Many of us stop here and feel chained to our past, unable to let go of the decisions we made. Paul didn't. In...

Confidence requires me to be Proactive not Reactive. I must think NOW (before the fight) so I can win later (during the fight against anxiety, fear, stress, and discouragement). What do I think about? Living Inside Out.  Many competitors live Outside In. Their mindset is consumed by their performance and what others think. As a result, they ride a roller coaster of emotion and depend on their...

In this episode, Gary continues the 2022 theme on God's Grace as he interviews Brad Newburg, an incredible brother in Christ, ministry leader, and VP of Trinity Safety Company.  Gary and Brad discuss God's extraordinary grace, share lessons learned, and seek to encourage every listener in their walk with Jesus Christ!

Have you ever feared the day you die? Or been nervous of the moment you come face to face with Jesus Christ? As a follower of Christ, I have great joy and peace in God's promise for eternal life, but for years I have been a bit nervous about my encounter with God. Would He be excited to see me or disappointed because I didn't measure up?  In the past year, God has spoken to my heart so clearl...

Have you ever felt like you stand on your performance as a Christian? Do you think God views you through how "good" of a Christian you are?  I have spent many years of my life thinking God views me through how well I live as a Christian, overcoming sin, reading my Bible, attending church, giving, serving, loving others, etc. The pressure mounts and it becomes exhausting.  God is transfor...

In this episode, Gary continues the 2022 theme on God's Grace sharing about Coming to the Throne of Grace in Time of Need.  God's grace is the answer to every need. But we must come to the throne of grace! "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:18)

In this episode, Gary continues the 2022 theme on God's extraordinary Grace sharing how when we EXPERIENCE grace everything changes. We are saved by God's grace; we stand in His grace; we have grace to look forward to when Jesus Christ returns; God's grace is sufficient for every need, weakness, and our identity. When we experience grace, we will want to come to God and live for Him not out of fea...

How do you prepare for the New Year? In this episode, Gary shares how he prepares for the New Year and his focus word for 2022 - Grace. Have you ever struggled with the concept that God is gracious? Or considered that His grace extends far beyond our salvation? As Christians, we are saved by God's grace, we stand in grace, we have grace to look forward to, grace for every need, grace for sufficien...

Welcome to Part 5 of a five part series on Gary's new book "Epic Journey - 5 of My Biggest Life's Lessons." In this episode, Gary shares his fifth biggest life lesson, "When Trials Hit Don't Buckle, Bail, or Blame." How do you respond in adversity? Listen as Gary shares the three enemies of perseverance and encourages you how to face adversity well Epic Journey is available for FREE download at Ga...

Welcome to Part 4 of a five part series on Gary's new book "Epic Journey - 5 of My Biggest Life's Lessons." In this episode, Gary shares his fourth biggest lesson, "Our Gifts Are Our Tools to Impact Lives for Jesus Christ." Have you ever struggled to see your gifts and circumstances as opportunities from God to make an eternal impact? Listen as Gary shares how God refocused his life off of the tem...

Welcome to Part 3 of a five part series on Gary's new book "Epic Journey - 5 of My Biggest Life's Lessons." In this episode, Gary shares his third biggest lesson, "If You Want to Bear Fruit, Abide." Have you ever struggled to truly love others, or to be joyful in difficult circumstances, or full of peace in trials? Listen as Gary shares the transformation that took place in his life to stop fighti...

Welcome to Part II of a five part series on Gary's new book "Epic Journey - 5 of My Biggest Life's Lessons."  In this episode, Gary shares his second biggest lesson, "If you want to be strong, surrender and trust." Many people think strength comes through toughening up and trying harder. In this ten-minute episode, Gary shares a new perspective through life experiences that taught him true st...

Epic Journey - 5 of My Biggest Life's Lessons.  Listen as Gary shares the first of a five-part series on his biggest life's lessons. In this episode, Gary focuses on how he learned to find his identity in Christ and not his performance or what other people think.  Epic Journey is available for FREE download here: https://www.garysteffes.com/resources. 

Have you ever struggled to stand firm against peer pressure? Listen as Gary shares stories from his own life learning to stand unashamed for the Gospel and against peer pressure.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)

Have you ever struggled to Be You? So many of us spend our lives trying to be someone else.  In this episode, Gary encourages listeners about Gods purposeful design and shares a story about how God taught him this lesson during the NCAA National Championship game in 2009. 

Listen as Gary shares his story from old identity to new identity. We are not defined by our performance or what other people think. We are defined by who God declares us to be.  "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Cor. 5:17)

Listen as Gary shares his story about going from the AA to AAA level. It is better to wait on the Lord than to try to take matters into your hands! "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)

Listen as Gary shares about the toughest season in his hockey career and how what often seem like SETBACKS are really God's SETUPS for something greater! "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

Prayer is powerful!  Listen to the first episode of Pure Encouragement Podcast as Gary shares about the necessity and power of prayer! “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of armies." (Zech. 4:6)